Heat exchange device and deflector therefor



P 2, c. 'r. PERKINS 2,254,258

HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE AND DEFLECTOR THEREFOR Filed June 16, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l fizuezzz oz CczrZes fPeP/Z 1725 [013916 a: I Q yjdzdw W9 l 2, 1941- c. T. PERKINS HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE AND DEFLECTOR THEREFOR Filed'June 16, 1938 3 Sheds-Sheet 2 Sept. 2, 1941. c. -r. PERKINS HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE AND DEFLECTOR THEREFOR Filed June 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE AND narmo'ron THEREFOR Charles T. Perkins, Racine, 'Wis., assignor to Modine Manufacturing-Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 16, 1938, Serial No. 213,971

8 Claims.

This invention relates to heat exchange devices, and particularly to a device having a fluid conducting core open to the circulation of air therethrough, and having an-air circulating. fan

whereby the air currents passing through the core may be directed from the'device at various angles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of deflectors whereby the air currents may be directed from various portions of the device and at various angles with respect thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of deflector blades operatively related and adjustable with respect to each other for directing air currents in various directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of disconnected, independently operated deflector blades having means associated therewith for maintaining the blades in various positions of adjustment with respect to each other and to the housing in which the blades aremounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for movably mounting the deflector blades within the device.

A still further object of the invention is to improve heat exchange devices of the character described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of-the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 5 is an end view of the 'structure illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, and viewed substantially as indicated by the line 66 thereof; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary transverse sectional views taken substantially as indicated by the lines 1-! and 8-8, respectively of Fig. 6. The present invention is shown, in the present instance, in conjunction with a heat exchange device commonly known as a unit heater comprising a housing, indicated as a whole, by the numeral l5, and having a fluid conducting radiator core I6 open to the circulation of air therethrough mounted in said housing.

Mounted also in the housing I5 is a motor I! having a fan l8 operatively related thereto and positioned at one side of the radiator core for cinculating currents of air therethrough, while at the opposite side of the core are a plurality of pivotally mounted, independently movable deflector blades indicated, as a whole and respectively, by the numeral l 9, the blades being shown in Fig. 1 as arranged in series A and B at opposite-side's of a strut 2| positioned adjacent the central vertical plane of the housing and extending between the upper and lower portions 22 and 23 thereof, respectively.

It will be noted by reference to Figs. 2, 4, and 5, that the blades l9 are of elongated construction formed preferably of sheet material, and having elongated relatively inclined front and rear edge portions 24 and 25, respectively, the blades being curved transversely from one to the other of the longitudinal front and rear edge portions, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the narrow end present instance, as extending substantially at a Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a heat right angle to the front edge portion thereof and substantially parallel to a wall portion 21 forming a part of the housing l5 at the outer sides.

thereof, while the relatively wider end portion 28 extends transversely and substantially at a right angle to the rear edge portion 25.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, the blades l9 are curved transversely from the front to the rear edge thereof and on various radii between said end portions, the curvature of least radius being adjacent the narrow end portion 26 of the blade, while the radii of the remaining curvature are progressively increased toward the wide end thereof to-provide a blade of scoop-like form having a curvature of varying radii at various points of cross section throughout the length of the blade.

gated protuberances 29 extending laterally from the edge portion and alternately at opposite sides of the blade, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, the protuberances being adapted to fit snugly within a tubular member 3| having a slot 32 formed therein adapted to receive the portion of the blade adjacent the protuberances, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8, the end portions of the tubular member 31 being rotatably' mounted, respectively, in the strut 2| and wall portion 21 of the housing in a manner to position the pivotal axes of the blades on opposite sides of the vertical central plane of the housing in parallel relation and at an angle inclinedto said plane, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4.

For retaining the respective deflector blades IS in various positions of adJustment with respect to each other and to the housing l5, each of the blades 19 is provided preferably adjacent its relatively narrow end portion with a clip indicated, as a whole, by the numeral 33 having a spring finger 3| formed thereon provided adjacent its free end portionwith a protuberance 35 adapted to engage the wall portion 21 of the housing l5 under tension of the spring finger 34, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, and in a manner to provide a frictional engagement between the protuberance 35 and wall portion 21 of the housing. By such an arrangement, it will be apparent that the respective deflector blades may be adjusted independently of each other and placed in various positions with respect to the housing, and retained in such adjusted positions by the protuberance 35 engaging the wall portion 21 of the housing.

It will be observed from the foregoing description, that by reason of the curvature of the respective blades and the inclination of the pivotal mounting thereof with respect to the central vertical plane of the housing, the adjusting of the blades at various positions about their pivotal mountings, will cause the air currents passing through the core l6 to be directed at various angles in an outwardly and downwardly direction and also laterally or horizontally with respect to the housing. For example, with the blades occupying the full line position shown in Fig. 2, air currents will be deflected downwardly and outwardly or laterally from the housing, whereas if positioned as indicated by dotted lines shown at 36 in Fig. 2, the air currents will be directed in a more pronounced downward direction, and by reason of the inclination of the blades with respect to the central vertical plane of the housing, the air currents will be directed inwardly toward said plane or in a manner to concentrate the air currents at a particular point as may be desired. By positioning the blades as indicated by the dotted lines shown at 31 of Fig. 2, the air currents may be directed in an upwardly and lateraldirection, and by positioning the blades as indicated by dotted lines shown at 38, the air currents may be discharged from the housing in substantially the direction at which they pass through the core Ii.

It will be apparent that with the construction and arrangement shown and described, the air currents, after passing through the core IS, may

be directed at various angles and in various directions as may be found desirable and, if desired, the deflector blades of the respective series A and B may be adjusted independently of each other in a manner to direct the air currents passing through the respective series toward or away from each other or in a commondirection toward the right or left of the housing, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel construction and arrangement of deflector blades whereby a relatively wide or restricted distribution of air currents may be obtained, and also a novel construction and arrangement whereby the blades are pivotally mounted in their support and retained in relatively fixed positions with respect to said support and to each other.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described as the same may be variously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in various different combinations and sub-combinations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A deflector for heat exchange device comprising an elongated blade having oppositely disposed, relatively inclined edge portions, one end portion of the blade extending transversely and at substantially a right angle to one of said edge portions, the opposite end portion of the blade extending transversely and at substantially a right angle to the opposite edge portion thereof.

' 2. A deflector for heat exchange device comprising an elongated blade having oppositely disposed, relatively inclined front and rear edge portions and having relatively wide and narrow end portions, the narrow end portion of the blade extending transversely and at substantially a right angle to said front edge portion, the wide end portion of said blade extending transversely and at substantially a right angle to the rear edge portion thereof.

A deflector for heat exchange device comprising an elongated blade having front and rear edge portions and relatively narrow end portions, said blades being curved transversely from one to the other of said edge portions and on various radii between said end portions.

4. A deflector for heat exchange device comprising an elongated blade having relatively inclined front and rear edge portions and relatively wide and narrow end portions, said blades being curved transversely from one to the other of said edge portions and on various radii between said end portions.

' 5. A deflector for heat exchange device comprising an elongated blade having relatively inclined front and rearedge portions and relatively wide and narrow end portions, said blades being 'curved transversely from one to the other of said edge portions and on various radii between said end portions, the curvature of least radius being adjacent the narrow end portion of said blade.

6. A deflector for heat exchange device comprising an elongated blade having relatively inclined front and rear edge portions and relatively wide and narrow end portions, said blades being curved transversely from one to the other of said edge portions and on various radii between said end portions, the curvature of least radius being adjacent the narrow end portion of said blade, and the radii of the remaining curvature progressively increasing towards the wide end thereof.

7. A deflector for heat exchange device comprising a pivotally mounted blade having elon- "transversely curved protuberances formed adjacent and spaced longitudinally of said elongated edge portion, said protuberances extending laterally from said blade alternately at opposite sides thereof, and a circular hollow tubular member adapted to snugly receive said protuberances and having a slot formed in one side of said tubular member adapted to receive the portion of said blade adjacent one side of said protuberanceasaid tubular member extending beyond the ends of said blade to provide a pivotal mounting therefor.

CHARLES T. PERKINS. 

